Rockford is located in northern Illinois just minutes from Wisconsin. The city of Rockford, along with its several suburbs, offer many recreational and tourism opportunities for visitors and residents. The activities range from a quiet trolley ride and a nickel arcade to horse riding, racing and water fun.
Water Parks
If you've ever traveled on I-39 north or south through the Rockford area, you've likely seen Magic Waters Waterpark. The park offers water slides, a water coaster, wave pool and lazy river. If the weather is not conducive to Magic Waters, you can still satisfy your water play urge at Cocokey Waterpark Resort. The resort is located in a hotel complex but offers day passes you can use to enjoy its indoor water park with slides, interactive features and private cabanas.
Action & Arcade
Engage in an exciting game of laser tag with your kids at Laser Quest on Executive Parkway in Rockford. For old time video-game fun, visit Nickelworld on Rockford's Main Street to play numerous free or nickel arcade games, some of which offer ticket redemption kids seem to appreciate.
Racing
You can ride single- and double-seat go carts at Competition Grand Prix; small riders can drive on the kiddie track. Millennium Raceway offers slot-car racing and four outdoor remote-control tracks along with an arcade and batting cage. After racing, slow down by riding a renovated trolley through Rockford starting at Riverview Park. The ride is run by the Rockford Park District.
Museums
Your dinosaur lover may enjoy the Burpee Museum of Natural History where he can view numerous dinosaur exhibits and artifacts, including a tyrannosaurus rex and wooly mammoth skeletons, as well as a children's gallery and rooftop garden. If your kids enjoy historical attractions, take them to Midway Village Museum to look at the 26-building Victorian village with gardens.
Play Time
Your elementary school children and toddlers can run off some energy playing on Sapora Playworld's tri-level soft playground; they and older kids can also ice skate at Carlson Ice Arena at the same location in Love's Park, a suburb of Rockford. To provide some learning with their play, take your kids of all ages to Discovery Center Museum with its 250 hands-on exhibits, planetarium, television studio, robotics lab and outdoor park with a maze, water play area and a dig pit.
Nature
Your horse lovers 8 years old or older may enjoy riding horses at Lockwood Park Trailside Equestrian Center and Children's Farm. Younger kids can take a pony, wagon or hay ride, or touch animals in the petting farm. You can smell the wildflowers, watch butterflies in the butterfly garden, walk on a path or trail, or observe fish or bees at Severson Dells Nature Center.
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